Essential Items Every Homeowner Needs
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A house needs a lot of things. Some are exciting to plan, like cozy furniture and decorations to make the space feel like you. But there are also essentials to keep your abode safe, clean, and functioning comfortably from roof to foundation. You don’t need to buy every single item on this list at once, but it’s worth considering what’s needed for your space. Start with safety, like smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, and then move on to the fun stuff like sheets and fancy showerheads.
Prices are accurate as of October 23, 2024. Subject to change.
Table of Contents
Health and Safety
Your home should be your safe space where you’re warm, comfortable, and relaxed without worry of potential threats — be it from intruders or accidents like fires or minor injuries.
Fires and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention
These should be on the top of your list because it takes very little money and prep work to protect yourself. It’s recommended to keep a fire extinguisher on each level of your house, including your basement. Smoke alarms should also be on every level, and the National Fire Protection Association recommends including them in each bedroom, too. Carbon monoxide detectors get the same recommendation as well, but at minimum, should be installed outside bedrooms so they’ll wake you up if they go off.
Security and Cameras
You don’t need your house to be as heavily guarded as Fort Knox, but there’s some peace of mind that comes with setting up a basic alarm or cameras. For an alarm system, I like SimpliSafe because it lives up to its name in terms of simplicity in setting up and using it. There are several premade bundles to get you started, or you can build your own system with exactly what you need — I particularly like the brand’s video doorbell. Wyze makes affordable, reliable cameras too. At the very least, we recommend changing any exterior door knobs and deadbolts once you move in. The old owners could have given copies of keys to anyone. For around $20, you don’t have to wonder who that might be.
First Aid Kit
You can buy a premade first aid kit that should cover most of the essentials. We recommend DIY-ing it, or taking stock of what’s included in your kit and adding in a few additional items that are relevant to your family’s needs. See our first aid kit buying guide for more helpful products and advice, but below are some of the most important things to add to what you already have on hand.
Tools and Backups
You don’t have to be the handiest person on the block, but you should have some basic tools should you need to hang a picture, fix a leaky faucet, or clean your walkways after a winter storm. And while we hope you never have to deal with a power outage, it’s a good idea to keep some battery-operated items on hand. These are some of our favorite tools and backup options.
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Home Goods and Supplies
When it comes to home goods, you likely already have everyday cleaning supplies on hand, but we have a few more suggestions as well.
Cleaning
If you have more than one bathroom, have a plunger and toilet brush for each one — no one wants to walk through the house with a plunger at the exact moment company arrives. You should also have a solid vacuum and mop. Dawn and white vinegar are essential cleaners and can be used for nearly everything.
Home Goods
Sheets get expensive, so the thought of buying multiple sets can be nauseating. However, you don’t want to be stuck sleeping on dirty sheets just because you couldn’t do laundry that day. If you find an inexpensive brand you like (I like Bedsure), get at least an extra set or two so you always have fresh sheets on hand.
Swapping your showerhead is an easy change to make a previously used shower feel new. If you live somewhere with hard water, Jolie’s showerhead softens it and filters out things like chlorine and heavy metals. If you don’t need to filter your water, you can still get a great new, clean showerhead under $50.
Air Purifiers
Having air purifiers changed my life from constant allergy attacks and I recommend them to anyone who also deals with indoor and outdoor allergies, as well as those with pets and carpets. But if you live somewhere that deals with frequent wildfires, having a few in your house can be absolutely essential in breathing comfortably.
Just In Case
You don’t need to fill your basement doomsday-prepper style, but it’s smart to keep some backup essentials available just in case a freak storm rolls through or a sudden injury or life change keeps you from getting to the store easily. Remember that having a backup doesn’t mean hoarding all the toilet paper from your local grocery stores. You can help yourself without inconveniencing others.
Other than what’s listed here, keep a case of water, non-perishable foods, and a backup of your pet’s food — and keep an eye on expiration dates so you can use it before it goes bad and then replace it.
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Featured Image Credit: JulieK2/ Shutterstock
This story was paid for by an advertiser. Better Report's editorial staff was not involved in the creation of this content.
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Medea is a writer and editor covering products across categories like beauty, pets, and home since 2017. Her commerce and lifestyle writing has appeared in WIRED and The New York Times. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and three cats.
This article is for general informational purposes only.
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